Sounders new additions Christian Tiffert & Mario Martinez?

Seattle makes a flurry of moves as the transfer window closes

When we woke up this morning it seemed like Sounders were going to have a quiet transfer window. The only significant potential moves had fallen apart last week when Deportivo Cali decided not to take Alvaro Fernandez on loan. Subsequently, the Joan Verdu dream cam to an end.

We’ll never know exactly why last week’s machinations fell through.

But today it doesn’t matter because of the bold moves made by the club.

What to Expect?

Tiffert comes from the recently relegated Kaiserslautern FC in Germany. Unfortunately, it’s pretty difficult to catch a Bundesliga match on tv here in the U.S. So we don’t know too much about him.

Here are my thoughts on what he brings to the side after reading up on him in the last few weeks.

An upgrade over Brad Evans

Brad Evans has done a serviceable job in central midfield. He breaks up play decently well and makes some runs forward. There are some things that Evans doesn’t do as well…including playmaking.

Tiffert brings everything that Evans does, plus more.

He majored in setting other players up during his more than 280 matches in the Bundesliga. He had 17 assists 2 years ago. This is a dimension that the Sounders have never had out of central midfield since they entered MLS.

It was thought when Alvaro Fernandezarrived 2 years go that he potentially could be that player, but that didn’t pan out.

Tiffert comes from the recently relegated Kaiserslautern FC in Germany.

Tiffert is a different story. He should be able to work with Mauro Rosales to release Fredy Montero and Eddie Johnson with regularity, once he settles into the side.

Tiffert also stands out on free kicks.

The Sounders could definitely use help in this area. Fredy Montero scored a couple of goals in 2011 of brilliant kicks, but beyond that the team has struggled on set pieces.

Tiffert should help shore up that department, giving them two good options in he and Rosales.

Mario Martinez solves the Alvaro Fernandez problem

Questions about who would play on the left side of midfield arose immediately when Alvaro Fernandez was traded this morning. Our answer came with the all but certain signing of Mario Martinez on loan.

Martinez is an exciting young winger who is currently playing for the Honduran U-23s at the London Olympics.

He comes in maybe not as a starter, but as an intriguing option on the left side of midfield.

The Martinez move seems to be a short term fix. My bet is that he will serve as a bridge until Steve Zakuani can fully recover.

These moves aren’t without risk, but they could potentially push Seattle to the next level.